Abu Dhabi, Aug 11 - The Khalifa Charity Foundation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has distributed food items to the needy and poor in Pakistan under a new humanitarian programme ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.

Nearly 150 tonnes of flour and 20 tonnes of high quality dates were given to the targeted groups, including poor families and charity and relief organisations, the foundation said in a press release.

A team from the charity organisation was in Pakistan to oversee the distribution operations in coordination with the UAE embassy in Islamabad and a number of humanitarian agencies.

The statement said the quota given to each area was determined by a field survey conducted by the charity team which has toured Pakistan recently.

Pakistani envoy to UAE Khurshed Ahmed Junejo hailed the new initiative by the UAE foundation which is named after the country's President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He said the UAE food assistance would help to ease suffering of many needy and poor families in the targeted areas.